Cantalloc Aqueducts tour in Nazca: Ancient irrigation system

Walk inside channels built 2,000 years ago to survive drought in the Nazca desert

A guided tour of the Cantalloc Aqueducts, an ancient irrigation system near Nazca that channeled water from underground springs and the Andes to sustain crops in one of the world's driest regions. Your local guide leads you through the working aqueducts, explains their construction and hydraulic engineering, and points out a feline geoglyph and the sacred huarango trees that surround the site. Hotel pickup and air-conditioned transport are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Cantalloc Aqueducts in Nazca

• Pickup from accommodation
• Drive to aqueducts
• Guided tour of aqueducts
• See crystal clear water channels
• Learn about aqueduct construction
• View ancient feline geoglyphs
• Explore surrounding Huarango trees

The experience

The Cantalloc Aqueducts sit a short drive from Nazca city center, and a private shuttle collects you from your accommodation before dawn or mid-morning depending on the departure time you choose. Once there, your bilingual guide takes you down into the channels themselves: the water still runs through them, clear and cold, after two millennia. The guide explains how the ancient Nazca engineered the system to tap underground sources and mountain runoff, the materials they used, and why it worked: the aqueducts let them grow crops through years of drought that would have starved a less resourceful people.

Beyond the engineering, the site holds other layers. A feline geoglyph (a large animal figure carved into the desert floor) is visible from the aqueduct area, a reminder that the Nazca left their mark in more ways than one. The huarango trees that grow around the aqueducts were sacred to the ancient people and remain so to locals today. Your guide will explain their significance. The tour runs about an hour on the ground, leaving time to absorb the scale of what you're standing inside without feeling rushed.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel with an air-conditioned vehicle.
• bilingual guide (English and Spanish) leading you through the aqueduct channels.
• all entry fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 13:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Nazca Shuttle Express

Is this one for you?This tour suits anyone interested in ancient engineering and water management rather than the famous Nazca Lines. The aqueducts are a quieter, less-visited site that reveals how the Nazca solved the survival problem of farming in the desert. Book it if you want to stand inside a 2,000-year-old working system with a local guide rather than fly over geoglyphs or hike to distant viewpoints.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly are the Cantalloc Aqueducts and how do they still have water flowing through them?

The Cantalloc Aqueducts are an ancient irrigation system built by the Nazca around 2,000 years ago to collect water from underground channels and mountain sources, then distribute it across the desert lowlands. The system still functions today. Water flows through the channels you walk inside, a testament to the engineering that allowed the Nazca to farm in one of the world's driest regions and manage drought strategically.

Will I actually go inside the aqueducts or just look at them from above?

You go inside the channels themselves with your guide, so you see the water up close and understand the scale and construction from within. The guide explains the materials, methods and purpose as you walk through.

What is the feline geoglyph I've heard mentioned, and can I see it clearly from the aqueduct site?

A feline geoglyph (a large animal figure carved into the desert) is visible from the Cantalloc Aqueduct area. Your guide will point it out and explain its significance alongside the aqueducts themselves, though it is not the focus of this tour the way the Lines of Nazca are on a separate flight or ground tour.

How long does the tour take and what time does it start?

The tour runs about an hour at the site itself. Hotel pickup times vary depending on which departure you select at checkout. Your guide will confirm the exact pickup window when you book.

Is this tour physically demanding, and can I do it if I'm not very fit?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You walk through the aqueduct channels with your guide, but the pace is leisurely and there are no strenuous climbs or long distances involved.

What does the tour include, and what should I bring?

Hotel or hostel pickup and drop-off, private air-conditioned transport, a bilingual guide, and all fees and taxes are included. Bring sun protection, a hat, and water. Snacks are not provided, so you may want to eat before or after the tour.